Sample handling system

ABSTRACT

A sample processing system is configured for analyzing, preprocessing, or carrying out other operations for a biological sample such as blood or urea. With the sample processing system, it is possible to store samples to be stored in a thermally insulated state or specimens required for accuracy control in the thermally insulated state for preventing evaporation or denaturing of the samples and specimens. Also it is possible to carry in or out the samples, rack by rack, according to necessity. Further, the sample processing system is provided with a buffer unit in a cold container having a capability for cold storage and also by accessing a sample rack at random for carrying in or out a rack with a transfer mechanism provided outside of the cold container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/831,562, filed Dec. 5, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/744,117, filed Jun. 19, 2015, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/121,006, filed May 15,2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,097,691 and claiming priority to JapaneseUtility Model Application No. 2007-003516, filed May 16, 2007, thedisclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sample handling system for storingand refrigerating a sample such as blood or urine sampled for checkingand also for delivering a specimen required for accuracy control.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the conventional sample handling system, a large-size cold containercapable of accommodating therein 1000 or more samples is generally usedfor storing samples required for accuracy control in the thermallyinsulated state. The samples are stored and taken out with the unit of atest tube by an XYZ mechanism and a hand mechanism provided in the coldcontainer. A known transfer path buffer used has been described, forinstance, in JP-A-2005-274289.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Because a large-size cold container is used for storing all samples inthe refrigerated state, it takes much time to store or take out thesamples. Therefore, it takes time unnecessarily to take out samples tobe rechecked, and a time delay occurs in reporting a result of analysisor the like. Furthermore, a specimen required for accuracy control ismanually input at a prespecified time interval. An object of the presentinvention is to refrigerate samples to be stored in the thermallyinsulated state or specimens required for accuracy control with the unitof a transfer rack or transfer racks to prevent evaporation ordenaturing of the samples or specimens and also to make it possible forthe samples to be carried in or out with a rack according to thenecessity.

A configuration according to the present invention can be realized byinstalling a cold container having a thermally insulating function in abuffer unit in a sample handling and accessing sample racks at randomwith a transfer mechanism installed outside the cold container to carryin our out the racks. Furthermore the configuration according to thepresent invention can be realized by employing a small-size coldcontainer using a Peltier unit or the like to accommodate a small numberof racks in the thermally insulated state therein.

As described above, when a cold container is installed in a buffer unit,it is possible to refrigerate and store samples required for thermalinsulation or specimens required for accuracy control, to preventevaporation or denaturing of the samples or specimens, and to supply thesamples or specimens rack by rack according to the necessity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a system configuration of abuffer unit with a cold container;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the buffer unit with a cold container;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the cold container;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a sample container mountedin the cold container;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a rack to be carried in orout from the cold container;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a rack to be carried in orout from the cold container;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a display screen in anoperating section;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a temperature control flow;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a flow of control for opening or closing adoor;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an evaporation control flow;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a structure inside the coldcontainer and of a position at which a cooler is mounted;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of a structure inside the coldcontainer and of a position at which a cooler is mounted;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a structure and operations of a coldcontainer rack transfer mechanism;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a structure and operations of the coldcontainer rack transfer mechanism;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a structure and operations of the coldcontainer rack transfer mechanism; and

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a view illustrating a structure andoperations of the cold container rack transfer mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of a system configuration according to the presentinvention is described below with reference to the example shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing one example of the systemconfiguration in which a buffer unit 1 is used. The system includes aninput unit 2, a transfer section 3, and a storage unit 4 as a core ofthe system. The system also includes a processing unit 5 and a bufferunit 1 with a cold container provided between the input unit 2 and theprocessing unit 5. The system can communicate with an operating section6 via a communication line. The processing unit 5 and the buffer unit 1with a cold container can be extended if the transfer sections areincreased.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a configuration of the buffer unit 1 witha cold container. The buffer unit 1 with a cold container includes abuffer section 10 and a storage section. The buffer section 10 mounts ageneral sample rack. The cold storage section 11 stores samples to bestored in the thermally insulated state and specimens required foraccuracy control. The buffer section 10 and the cold storage section 11can mount a plurality of racks 12 whose positions numbers are previouslyset thereon. The rack 12 mounted on the buffer section 11 or on the coldstorage section 11 can be accessed at random with a handling unit 13provided on a transfer mechanism 14 regardless of its position, so thatit is possible to take out only a necessary one among the racks 12.Examples on random access are displayed on a screen 50 of an operatingsection 6 as shown in FIG. 7. Presence or absence of a rack, a coldstorage time, and accessibility for each position is shown on the screen50. Because there is not a rack at position C, access to position C isinhibited. Although the rack 12 is present at position B, because thecold storage time is shorter than a prespecified period of time, accessto the position B is inhibited. The cold storage time is required to seta sample or a reagent at a constant temperature for appropriate analysisaccuracy, being set to any value according to the necessity (or to zero,if not required). The accessible positions are positions A, D, and E inthis example. In this situation, the rack 12 at position D is selectedas a target for random access by the operating section 6 because thecold storage time at the position is longer than the reference time. Therack 12 at position D is held by the handling unit 13, and istransferred in the state by the transfer mechanism 14 through thetransfer section 15, and is supplied by the main transfer section 16 tothe processing unit 5 which is provided in the downstream side.Furthermore, another rack 12 transferred from an upstream unit by themain transfer section 16 is held by the handling unit 13, and a positionnumber at which the rack 12 is to be stored is instructed by theoperating section 6 via a communication line. For instance, the rack 12can be stored at position C in the cold storage section 11, and thus itis possible to control and manage the rack 12 independently from that atposition D.

As described above, because random access is possible, access to atarget sample can be performed quickly. As a result, because the time ittakes to open or close a door of the cold container can be shortened, atemperature change within the cold container can be suppressed. Inaddition, such parameters as a temperature within the cold container ora cumulative time can be displayed on the screen 50. Furthermore, agraph of temperature change can be displayed thereon.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of an appearance of a coldcontainer 30. A cooler 21 is mounted on a side face 20 of the coldcontainer so that a sample and a specimen in a sample container 22mounted on the rack 12 placed in the cold container are stored in thethermally insulated state to prevent evaporation or denaturing of thesample or the specimen. For instance, a Peltier unit is used for thecooler 21, and such a material as a coolant or cooling water is not usedfor it. Temperature inside the cold container 30 is measured with atemperature sensor 101 while the peripheral temperature is measured by aperipheral temperature sensor 102 so that they may be controlled. Such adevice as a thermocouple or a thermistor is used for the temperaturesensor 101 and the peripheral temperature sensor 102.

The control is performed as described below. FIG. 8 is a flow chart fortemperature control within a cold container. For temperature controlwithin the cold container 30, a Peltier unit is used as the cooler 21,and when the Peltier unit is turned ON, the temperature within the coldcontainer 30 drops. Temperature within the cold container 30 is measuredby the temperature sensor 101 at a prespecified sampling time. When atemperature f within the cold container is compared to a presettemperature F and it is determined that the temperature f is not morethan the present temperature F, the Peltier unit is turned OFF. When thetemperature f within the cold container is higher than the presettemperature F, a period of cold storage time m elapsed after input ofthe sample is measured. The cold storage time m is measured with a timersuch as a microprocessor not shown in the figure. When the cold storagetime m is compared to a preset time M and it is determined that thestorage time m is not longer than the preset time M, the Peltier unit isturned ON. IF the Peltier unit has been ON, the unit is as it is. Whenthe cold storage time m is longer than the preset time M, an alarm 51 isoutput because the preset temperature F is not reached. The alarm 51 canbe recognized when displayed on the operating section 6, for instance,via a communication line. The sampling time, the preset time F withinthe cold container, and the preset time M for cold storage can freely beset with the operating section 6 according to the necessity, and theyare written in a memory area of a microprocessor not shown, forinstance, via a communication line. The memory must be involatile orelectrically backed up with any power source.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for controlling opening and closing operations ofa door of the cold container. When the door of the cold container isopened and closed n times, temperature change occurs in the coldcontainer because the peripheral air is introduced therein. The systemaccording to the present invention is intended to prevent degradation ofspecimens stored in the container based on this temperature change. Whenthe door of the cold container is opened and closed n times, namely whenthe door is opened and closed prespecified times N or more, forinstance, within one hour, an alarm 52 is output. This alarm 52 can berecognized, for instance, via a communication line, on the operatingsection 6. The prespecified times N can freely be set at the operatingsection 6 according to the necessity, and is written in a memory area ofa microprocessor not shown via a communication line or the like andcleared to zero by a one-hour timer.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of evaporation control for a sample. A coldstorage time t1 of a sample stored in the thermally insulated state inthe cold container is measured and compared to a preset time T1. It isdetermined that a sample in which the time t1 is not less than the timeT1 can be used, while a sample in which the time T1 is not reachedcannot be used yet, and cold storage of the sample is continued. Asample determined as available is carried out from the cold containeraccording to an instruction from the operating section 6, and isprocessed for prespecified items in the processing unit 5. After theprocessing is complete, the sample is again returned to the buffersection and is carried into the cold container to be stored in thethermally insulated state. To control an amount of evaporation, a timet2 elapsed from the time point when the sample is carried out from thecold container until the time point when the sample is again carriedinto the cold container is measured and compared to a preset time T2.When the time t2 is not less than the preset time T2, an alarm 53 isoutput. This alarm 53 can be recognized when the alarm 53 is displayedon the operating section 6, for instance, via a communication line. Thepreset time T1 and the preset time T2 are written in a memory area of amicroprocessor from the operating section 6 via the communication lineor the like. The samples stored in the thermally insulated state in thecold container are shown in the operating section 6 as a table as shownin FIG. 7. As described above, output of the preset parameters andalarms is controlled by the operating section 6. The samples for whichthe alarms 51, 52, and 53 have been issued are carried out onto thestorage unit 4 and are managed in the operating section 6.

The cooler 21 can be mounted also on an upper surface 23 of the controlcontainer. The cooler 21 is mounted on a face of the cold container 30to cool inside of the container. FIG. 11 is a view showing an example inwhich the cooler 21 is mounted on an upper surface of the container 30,while FIG. 12 is a view showing an example in which the cooler 21 isamounted on a side face of the container 30. As shown in FIG. 3, thecold container is cooled from one face thereof, and thereforetemperature in the upper portion of the cold container is not equal tothat in the lower portion. To make the temperature within the coldcontainer 30 uniform, a convection space 202 for circulating air thereinis provided under a cold storage space 201 in which a sample rack isaccommodated as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. The convection space 202allows air inside the space to be naturally circulated, and a differencebetween temperature in the upper portion and that in the lower portionbecomes smaller. The cold storage space 201 and the convection space 202are configured so that convection of the air is performed through aplurality of ventilation holes 203. The ventilation holes 203 areprovided so that convection of air therethrough will occur, and may havea wire mesh. The convection space 202 may be a height of 2 to 3 cm solong as air circulates.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a sample container 22 mounted on the rack 12placed in the cold container. The rack 12 carries thereon the samplecontainer 22 and the sample container 24 which have a sample 25 puttherein respectively. A sample container a24 may be mounted on thesample container 22.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how to transfer the rack12 placed in the cold container. A top surface of the cold container 30is automatically opened so that the rack 12 in the cold container 30 canbe accessed. Operations for opening and closing the door of the coldcontainer are performed in synchronism to operations of the XYZmechanism so that the operations can be performed within as short aperiod of time as possible to ensure cold storage. The rack 12 placed inthe cold container 30 is grasped and held by the handing unit 13 mountedon a side face of the transfer mechanism 14. In the state, the rack 12is raised and taken out from the cold container 30, followed by the nextprocessing. When the rack 12 is to be stored in the cold container, theoperations are performed in the reverse sequence. While the handlingunit 13 grasps and holds the rack 12 to be transferred, it does notcontact the sample container 22.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how to transfer the rack12 placed in the cold container 30. A side face of the cold container 30is automatically opened so that the rack 12 placed in the cold container30 can be accessed. To reduce friction between the rack 12 and the coldcontainer 30 during the transfer, a roller 40 may be provided on abottom surface of the rack 12 so that the operations for carrying in andout the rack 12 can be performed smoothly.

A rack transfer mechanism 360 includes a bucket 361 capable of holdingone rack and moving in the Y-axial direction, an X-axial mechanism 362for moving together with the bucket in the Y-axial direction to transfera rack in the bucket in the X-axial direction, and a carriage 363mounted to the X-axial mechanism 362 for up and down movement.

The rack transfer mechanism is described in detail below with referenceto FIG. 13 to FIG. 16, and the description is made for an example inwhich a sample rack mounted in the bucket 361 is transferred to thebuffer section 302 inside the cold container 30.

At first, the rack transfer mechanism 360 drives a Y drive motor 364 tomove the bucket 361 to a stand-by position at which a rack in the coldcontainer 30 is carried in or out. At the same time, the rack transfermechanism 360 drives an X drive motor 365 to move the carriage 363mounted to the X-axial mechanism 362 to a position under the sample rackmounted in the bucket 361 (FIG. 13). Then, the rack transfer mechanism360 drives a door drive motor 368 to move a door 31 of the coldcontainer in the lateral direction to open the door. At the same time,the rack transfer mechanism 360 drives a Z drive motor 366 to raise thecarriage 363 amounted to the X-axial mechanism 362 so that the carriage363 can be set in a groove provided on a bottom surface of the samplerack (FIG. 14).

Slits 367 are provided in the bucket 361 as well as on a sample racktransfer surface of the rack buffer section 302 in the cold container sothat the carriage 363 can move in the X-axial direction in the elevatedstate.

Then, in the state where the carriage 363 is set in the groove providedon the bottom surface of the sample rack, the rack transfer mechanism360 drives the X drive motor 365 to transfer the sample rack from thebucket 361 to the rack buffer section 302 in the cold container (FIG.15). Use of the sample rack allows the sample to easily be moved even ifthere is a groove extending in the width direction of the cold containerdoor. Furthermore, because the carriage 363 is set in the grooveprovided on the bottom surface of the sample rack from bottom to top, asample rack can be moved over any width of the cold container 31. Afterthe sample rack is moved to the rack buffer section 302 in the coldcontainer, the carriage 363 is moved downward and the X drive motor 365is driven to move the X-axial mechanism 362 to a position under thebucket 361 (FIG. 16). At the same time, the rack transfer mechanism 360drives the cold container door 31 in the lateral direction to close thedoor.

Description of the example above is based on a case where the coldcontainer door 31 is moved in the lateral direction when opened orclosed, but the cold container door 31 may be moved in any direction orrotated so long as a space for carrying in and out a sample rack isprovided. Also the description is based on a case where the sample rackis transferred from the bucket 361 to the rack buffer section 302 in thecold container, but the present invention is not limited to thisconfiguration, and the sample rack may be moved from the rack buffersection 302 to the bucket 362.

As described above, because a slot which has a sample rack set in thestand-by state for transfer is independently provided from the bucket361 as is the rack buffer section 302, random access to any sample rackis possible.

Furthermore the description is based on a case where a driving sectionis moved into a bottom portion of a sample rack for movement of the coldcontainer door over a width of the groove, but it is possible to usesuch a ratchet mechanism as to press a front or rear portion of a samplerack. Even if a width of the groove causes a problem for smooth movementof the sample rack, the problem can easily be solved by providing aguide mechanism operating in synchronism to an operation of the ratchetmechanism for feeding or returning a sample rack.

Operations of the mechanisms described above are controlled by atransfer control computer having microprocessors not shown andincorporated in this system according to information or instruction froma host computer not shown in the figure. Although the cold container iscontrolled in temperature by a dedicated control unit, it may becontrolled by the transfer control computer if the computer affords tocarry out the operation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A management method for a sample handling systemusable for storing and refrigerating samples, including: providing abuffer unit in the sample handling system; providing a sample transfersection in the buffer unit for transferring samples in the buffer unitto and from the sample handling system; providing a cold insulation unitin the buffer unit and using the cold insulation unit for storingsamples to be supplied to and received from the sample handling systemusing the sample transfer section; providing an openable and closabledoor in the cold insulation unit; providing an operating section for thesample handling system and being in communication with the samplehandling system; providing an alarm in the operating section; storing aprespecified number of opening and closing times of the openable andclosable door of the cold insulation unit, during a preset time periodin the operation section; determining an actual number of opening andclosing times of the openable and closable door of the cold insulationunit in the preset time period; providing the actual number of openingand closing times of the openable and closable door to the operatingsection; comparing the actual number of opening and closing times of theopenable and closable door during the preset time period with theprespecified number of opening and closing times of the openable andclosable door using the operating section; and actuating the alarm inthe operating section when the actual number of opening and closingtimes of the openable and closable door in the preset time period isgreater than the prespecified number of opening and closing times of theopenable and closable door in the preset time period stored in theoperating section.
 2. The management method of claim 1 includingproviding the prespecified number of opening and closing times in theoperating section as a number set in the operating section by a user ofthe sample handling system.